|
Day: |
003 |
|
Date: |
Sunday, 30 July 2006 |
|
Summary |
Riding from Mirboo North to the Aberfeldy
Bridge Campground. |
|
Start: |
Mirboo North |
|
Finish: |
Aberfeldy Bridge Campground |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
103 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
231 |
|
Weather: |
Mostly sunny with occasional strong north
winds and quite cool. |
|
Accommodation: |
Tent in Aberfeldy Bridge Campground in Baw
Baw National Park . |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Muesli
Lunch:
Hamburger and chips
Dinner: Peanut butter roll and a block
of chocolate |
|
Encounters: |
None really. |
|
Highlights: |
It was great to get high into the forests
of the Great Dividing Range . |
|
Lowlights: |
Some very long hills, some of which I had
to walk. |
|
Journal: |
I could hear the wind howling outside the
Yarntons all night and was a bit worried about the weather when I
set out. The wind-chill was low and I wore a beanie and extra top
to keep warm. I left soon after 7:00am with the goal of stopping in
at John Duck’s, and old running friend, in Trafalgar some 30km away
in time to have a cup of coffee with him before he headed up to
Melbourne to go to the footy. Since Trafalgar is down in the
Latrobe Valley , I mistakenly assumed it would be an easy ride and I
could make it in 60 to 90 minutes. It turned out to be a very hilly
ride through more scenic rural country, with only the last 5km
downhill. I didn’t arrive until after 9:00am, but we still managed
to have a quick catch-up over coffee before they left.
I then
rode via Moe to Erica which is well up in the foothills of the Great
Dividing Range where I enjoyed a burger, chips and milkshake for
lunch. Like yesterday, I found myself running very low on energy in
the late morning and really needed the food. The scenery was a mix
of hilly rural grazing country and occasional eucalypt forest.
Revived by lunch I set out along winding forest roads to Walhalla
which is a well-preserved and pretty old mining town, surviving on
tourism these days, nestled in a narrow steep-sided valley. The
road to this point was mostly uphill but sealed. After Walhalla it
changed to rough gravel and occasionally became steep enough for me
to walk. I was still conscious of not overdoing it in the first few
days. The road seemed to go upwards forever, but I finally reached
a ridge adjacent to Baw Baw National Park and the road turned to
undulating. I finally descended steeply along a very rough track to
reach the Aberfeldy Bridge Campground shortly after 5:00pm and found
I had it all to myself. It was a pleasant campsite with tables,
grassy areas and bordered the shallow Aberfeldy River . As the sun
had gone down it became very cold and I quickly put on several
layers of warm clothes, erected my tent, and had a quick dinner
before updating my diary and going to the warmth of my sleeping bag
around 7:30pm. The forecast is for a cold front to pass through
tonight with rain and snow at higher elevations. I hope it’s not too
bad for packing up in the morning. I’m sure it’s going to be very
cold regardless. |
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
(2016)
Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track
(2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
|
